Book Giveaway – BOATS WILL FLOAT by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum

Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum has written a new picture book titled, BOATS WILL FLOAT, Illustrated by Brett Curzon and published by Sleeping Bear Press. Sleeping Bear Press has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping Adrian & Brett!

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Writing in rhythmic text, author Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum (Trains Don’t Sleep) explores the many types of watercraft navigating our lakes, rivers, and oceans, including trawlers, tankers, and cruise ships. Beginning with the sunrise, boats of all shapes and sizes are on their way to a full day. Fishing boats with their nets head out for their day’s lucky catch. Tugboats guide a freighter safely into harbor, and pleasure craft such as sailboats and speedboats offer hours of enjoyment for their passengers. Then when night comes, even boats take a rest, including a houseboat that is docked with its family warm and cozy inside. Back matter includes detailed descriptions of each type of watercraft mentioned.

BOOK’S JOURNEY:

Most writers are familiar with the words write what you know. More often than not, I’ve written books thinking I knew next to nothing about the subject matter. Until, I sat back and read my own words. I’ve written several manuscripts thinking the idea came from one of my children, or grandchildren. But often enough, I’ve later realized the seed for a story sprouted long ago, somewhere in my own childhood. That’s what happened with my newest picture book, BOATS WILL FLOAT.

At first, I thought I was writing a follow-up manuscript to another book of mine called TRAINS DON’T SLEEP (HMH 2017). But the deeper I sunk into the manuscript, the more childhood memories began to floating to the surface. My very first experience with watercraft was in my grandparents’ canoe. They’d buckle me into a stiff, puffy, orange life jacket and plop me into their aluminum canoe. Off we’d go, gliding across Candlewood Lake. It was smooth. It was serene. The cool breeze contrasted sharply with the sizzling, summer sun. The dark, emerald lake smelled fishy. It was calm and mysterious. Until we got far out enough that we had to be mindful of noisy motor boats.

Only after several revisions did I begin to understand that I was writing something more than just a look at a wide variety of boats.  I was writing about who used them. I was writing about families building memories together. I was showing children that boats can be used commercially for fishing, for transport and shipping, recreation and scientific exploration. When Brett Curzon illustrated the manuscript , he framed it around a family living on a house boat. I knew that was how my book ended, but Brett added the full circle moment when he placed the houseboat into the opening spreads. Brett added depth, color and character to the book in ways I’d never even considered.

–The humor of the Titanic inspired couple on the bow of the cruise ship.

–The granny about to parasail behind a speed boat.

–The nautical alphabet and flags that spell out the book’s title.

My favorite spread is the one at night, with the father and son sailing back home under a glowing moon.

Though they’re not in a canoe, it stirs my memories of my grandparents.

       Soft warm breezes lull and lift.

Skipjack sails as currents drift.

Sunset melts in ocean’s blue.

Moon comes in a curved canoe.

Although it was originally intended as a follow-up book, the road to publication for BOATS WILL FLOAT was rather rocky. It sold to a different company. Then a few months later, the acquiring editor left. Six months after the sale was announced the book was cancelled. That was a shock. I had such hopes for this book. I couldn’t bear to see it sunk. Fortunately, my agent at the time sold the book again. The final product turned out beautifully, thanks to my editor Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press and Brett Curzon. Barb asked me to add a glossary explaining the function of each of the boats and I’m so glad I did. I’ve been getting some wonderful feedback about how much children love pouring over the glossary and then turning back to the text to find their favorite boat. BOATS turned out to be everything I love about my favorite picture books. A perfect coupling of words and illustrations.

ANDRIA WARMFLASH ROSENBAUM’S BIO:

Andria Warmflash Rosenbaumn is the author of Meg Goldberg on Parade published by Kar-Ben Press in Aug. 2015.  In May 2017, HMH Children’s published her book, Trains Don’t Sleep and that September, Scholastic published Big Sister, Little Monster. In 2019 Disney published Frozen 2: Anna, Elsa, and the Secret River – A 40 page picture book based on Frozen 2. Now this week, her book, Boats Will Float published by Sleeping Bear Press hit the book shelves.

Andria W. Rosenbaum

I write for the moments when writing is like magic. Words can be a ticket to somewhere else. They can pass you a handful of hope. They can open your eyes to a new point of view. They’ll unlock the door to a stranger’s house and let you safely explore. They can share laughter and shine a light where there once was only darkness. They gift us with understanding and spark ideas for change. And sometimes they’re just for fun. Never underestimate the importance of fun.

Website: www.andriawarmflashrosenbaum

Twitter: andriawrose

Instagram: andriawrosenbaum

BRETT CURZON’S BIO:

Brett Curzon lives in northern NSW Australia with his family, his wife, three kids, two dogs and a one evil cat. He says, “I have always, well as far as I can remember… drawn or painted (in fact I came out of the womb holding a blunt HB pencil), and nothing has changed now that I’m older.” He has a Diploma in Graphic Design and one in Fine Art, so he’s ticked a few boxes in that regard. He enjoys all types of art and design, but in saying that he does gravitate to children’s books. He worked on a project for an interactive children’s history app recently, and had a blast coming up with the ideas to keep kids entertained. He is also a poet.

Brett was featured on Illustrator Saturday.

Illustrating a book all about boats, well I was totally onboard (insert pun) of course! I had a great time working on the book with Andria and Sleeping Bear Press and was so chuffed to be asked by them to provide the illustrations for Andria’s book.

After I read the story, I had to go and research all the different types of boats, I had no idea there where so many boats with so many different purposes.

Next step was to layout the book, I mocked up a book with the exact size of the final printed book, and I also printed out the script in the final print size.

I cut up the story (words) and placed them on the page, then I just started putting boat shapes that related to the kind of boat that was on that page, moving shapes and font around trying to make it aesthetically pleasing.

I then stuck all the pages on the wall and stood back and saw how the pages flowed together from one page to the next, when it all looked good I started to add detail to the sketches.

The final art is digital for the book, but the sketches were hand drawn on paper made to the final book size, when approved I started to adding colour in Photoshop. The thing I enjoy about Photoshop is the flexibility, you can resize and move things around, it’s not as romantic as getting out the paints and pencils, but overall Photoshop works for me.

I enjoy adding lots of detail to the drawings, and humour if appropriate with the hope that the reader discovers something new each time they read the book. I had a lot of fun illustrating Boats will Float, thanks Andria and Sleeping Bear Press!

 I hope everyone enjoys reading it too!

Andria, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I have a copy and your text and Brett’s illustations make the whole book feel like you’re on a boat rolling over the waves. So much fun, how you reminded us on how many different boats are floating in our waterways, oceans, and lakes.  Good job!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy